Pro-Taliban militants said on Tuesday they had kidnapped two Chinese telecommunications engineers and two Pakistanis and said abductions would continue until the government stopped attacking militants.

The two Chinese and a Pakistani driver and guard, disappeared near the Afghan border on Friday when they were returning to a guest house after repairing a telecommunications tower.

China is a staunch ally of Pakistan's and a major investor and the safety of Chinese nationals is a priority for any Pakistani government.

A Taliban spokesman based in the Swat Valley, to the east of Dir, claimed responsibility and said the four were in good health.

"Our aim is to hit the government's interests wherever they are. We kidnap everyone irrespective of whether he's Pakistani or Chinese and we'll continue to do this until they stop killing our people," the spokesman, Muslim Khan, said by telephone.

Police launched a search for the four on Monday in the mountainous region.